Today
I'll take you on a journey to meet women from
an ethnic group in Chad called the "Badsada Arabs" (?)
The defining feature of this ethnicity is their long
frizzy hair which often reaches their thighs
They agreed to share their beauty secrets with me so I went
to find out how they make their hair grow out so long
and the recipe for their hair treatments
They coat their hair with a mix of ingredients
which keeps their hair extremely hydrated and moist
This stops it from breaking
from childhood, right through until they are adults.
[foreign stringed instrument playing]
(singing in foreign language)
the mix is made
mainly of a grain called "shevay" ,
a grain called 'mechlava su bien"
a type of stone called "misic"
which gives the mix a nicer smell
cloves,
a resin called "samurh",
and fragranced oil
the lady who's invited us, roasts
and grinds each ingredient
she then passes them through a sieve until
they are all in powder form
next each each woman chooses their favorite hair butter
or oil which they will add to their mixture
traditionally women use beef fat,
but this was swapped, due to its very strong smell
Before applying the mixture,
she wets the hair
then, she applies the powder mix
and the chosen oil, in alternation, until the hair
is completely saturated
she then replats the hair, and wets it again
this ritual is repeated every five days
many people think their long hair is linked
to their genes, so I asked them if it was,
they said "No,
it wasn't at all genetic, they
don't apply the "shevay" to their fringe, & that stays short
whereas they do apply it
all over the rest of their hair, which grows long
and it doesn't break
